Smart Personal Air Filter

ABSTRACT

A personal air filter with a PCB, with or without a microprocessor, and wireless transmission to a mobile ad hoc network is presented herein. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an accessory e-cigarette, (CBD, tobacco, etc.) filter assembly that is essentially configured with one or more sensors and transmission capability. The apparatus is further part of a wider system of the present invention for the purpose of performance monitoring and tracking, making the filter reusable and further extension of its life cycle.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims benefit of the priority date of U.S.Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/889,814 filed on Aug. 21, 2019 entitled“Smart Filter.” Accordingly, the entire content of this U.S. provisionalpatent submission is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to accessories for electronicsmoking devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to asmart electronic (or traditional) cigarette exhale filter capable ofrecording and transmitting data and providing information, alerts anddata to users and manufacturers regarding filter performance.

Description of the Prior Art

Ever increasing in popularity, “electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes” andvaporizers typically use an electrical heating element to heat a liquidusually containing a mixture of nicotine and flavorings/extract thatproduces a mist similar to smoke but without the excessive heat thatcauses combustion. A useful exemplary apparatus was proposed by Countset al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,978, entitled “Electrical Smoking System forDelivering Flavors and Methods of Making Same,” and was awarded patentprotection in 1997. This particular prior art device has a receptaclefor receiving tobacco or “tobacco flavored material” and electricalheating elements configured to the device for heating the material inorder to emit vapors or aerosol for delivery to a smoker.

Over the intervening years, e-cigarettes have evolved to pen-types,wafer or stick-types, or larger units fitting into a user's hand with amouthpiece coupled thereto.

Further, as e-cigarette use has evolved and gained momentum, either asan alternative to typical cigarettes or smoked flower material, so haveaccessory items to accompany them. One such accessory currently on themarket has been branded the Smoke Buddy®. This device is specifically anexternal filter for receiving exhaled mist; and it could be applicableto vaping, traditional cigarette smokers, or medical cannabis smokersthat wish to filter emissions and eliminate odors produced by using thesmoking devices. The Smoke Buddy® however has it's drawbacks; forexample, it's bulky, awkward and irregular in shape. Also, Accordingly,the present invention herein is an improvement of the device addingtechnology aimed at making the filter reusable and extending its life.Another object of the present invention is to provide sensing and datacollection for users and 3^(rd) parties. In this way, the filter may bereferred to as a smart device.

It is still further an object of the present invention to provide anadvanced, scalable and cost-effective device incorporating advancementsin electronic/wireless transmission and 3D printing technology. Morespecifically, control microprocessors have become less expensive andthere has been an emergence of wireless initiatives, such as theBluetooth or ZigBee standard using small, low power, short rangetransmission. Such wireless system performance monitoring has becomeeasier and cheaper, lessening the initial cost of implementation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates theabove-mentioned deficiencies, more specifically, the present invention,in a first aspect is a personal air filter for filtering exhalecomprising: a first tubular housing for receiving and containing aplurality of filter components; a mouth piece configured to a proximalend of the first tubular housing, the mouthpiece for introducing theexhale; an air instrument for sensing air flow (or air pressure) withinthe first tubular housing; and an electronic transmitter (ortransceiver) for sending data to a wireless network provided by the airinstrument, the data to be for the purpose of monitoring filterperformance (e.g. the data to be received by a receiver and processor ina smart cellular telephone or a wireless ad hoc network); and a powersupply for powering said personal air filter.

The invention in this first aspect is additionally characterized in thatit comprises a second tubular housing about an outer surface of thefirst tubular housing wherein the first tubular housing comprisesextruded aluminum and wherein the second tubular housing comprises PLAmaterial being substantially biodegradable defined as havingapproximately a five (5) year environmental presence.

The invention in this first aspect is additionally characterized in thatit comprises a second tubular housing about an outer surface of thefirst tubular housing wherein the first tubular housing comprisesextruded aluminum and wherein the second tubular housing comprises PLAmaterial being substantially biodegradable defined as havingapproximately a five (5) year environmental presence. The plurality offilter components further comprises a replaceable filter cartridge at aninterior to the first housing and a filter medium at an interior to thefilter cartridge.

Still further according to the invention in the first aspect, thesending data to a wireless network further comprises a clock formeasuring a duration of exhale and time of use, and a counter circuitfor recording number of exhales. It should be appreciated that thecounter could be accomplished any number of ways. Still further, theinstrument for sensing air flow can be a first air instrument at anoutlet plenum to the plurality of filter components. In this embodiment,the personal air filter further has a second air instrument positionedat an inlet check valve (either adjacent to the inlet or exit to theinlet check valve), wherein the electronic transmitter is configured toa printed circuit board (PCB), wherein further a microprocessor and amini-universal serial bus (USB) charging port are both configured to thePCB.

The personal air filter for filtering exhale is additionallycharacterized in that it comprises: a top end wall at the proximal endof the tubular housing; a check valve approximately at the proximal endof the tubular housing; and an exit vent at a distal end of the tubularhousing. In addition the outer housing further comprises a reliefincluding an aperture exposing and providing access to the first tubular(inner) housing, the relief carveout for assisting allowing a user todisassemble the personal air filter.

The invention is still a second aspect is characterized as smartpersonal air filter comprising: a filter cartridge comprising a filtermedium; a mouthpiece for introducing air to be filtered to the filtercartridge; a first (inner) housing for containing and receiving thefilter cartridge; a printed circuit board (PCB) having a power sourcecoupled thereto; a transmitter coupled to the PCB for transmittingfilter informational data to a wireless network.

The smart personal air filter in this aspect of the invention isadditionally characterized in that an outer jacket is provided coveringthe first inner housing including a relief carveout in the outer jacketfor assisting removal thereof wherein the mouthpiece is permanentlyaffixed to the outer jacket.

In still a third aspect, the invention may be characterized as a systemfor measuring filter performance comprising: a personal air filterhaving a mouthpiece for introducing air thereto; an air sensor forsensing air flow or air pressure; a low power transmitter fortransmitting sensor data; and a receiver and processor for receiving andprocessing sensor data. The system further comprises a clock forrecording data comprising: a duration of exhale; a number of exhales perday; and count days of useful life of a filter cartridge, the usefullife being determined by the air sensor.

While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake ofgrammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC §112, or similar applicable law, are not to be construed as necessarilylimited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps”limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning andequivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicialdoctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expresslyformulated under 35 USC § 112 are to be accorded full statutoryequivalents under 35 USC § 112, or similar applicable law. The inventioncan be better visualized by turning now to the following drawingswherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself,both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood fromthe accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdescription, in which similar reference characters refer to similarparts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention in a position ofuse;

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2B is an additional exploded view of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the present invention includingdata transmitted to a mobile ad hoc network;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a filter of the present invention;and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a device taken along line 5-5 inFIG. 1 included with a schematic to show the Bluetooth module of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, an isometric view of the outsidestructure of a smart personal filtering apparatus 20 is shown in anisometric view. The device 20 has an inner and outer housing, the outerhousing 20 being a removable jacket designed to allow easy disassemblyof the device 20, for example, when a filter cartridge 24 should bereplaced. Relief 26 in the outer jacket 20 is a carveout aperture thatassist a user removal thereof. The isometric view of a filter is shownwith a mouthpiece at a top thereof; the mouthpiece 23 may be its ownremovable component; or the mouthpiece could be configured permanentlyaffixed to the outer jacket. As stated, the relief carveout aperture 26is provided to the second outside housing that surrounds a firsthousing. As detailed herein, an upper area of the device 20 houses areplaceable filter cartridge 24.

With regard to FIGS. 2A and 2B, closely related first and secondembodiments of a smart filter apparatus 20, 30 are shown in separateexploded views. The difference between the two 20, 30 are the locationsof the mini-USB (Universal Serial Bus) charging port and whether theinvention 10 employs one or two air flow instruments 15, the later to beexplained in more detail herein.

Importantly in a preferred embodiment the replaceable filter cartridge24, 34 (and/or the second or outer housing 22, 32) is comprised ofpolyester material derived from biomass, commonly referred to as PLA(polylactic acid) that is similar to plastic however biodegradable,hence referred to as a bioplastic. PLA is distinguishable from ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) thermoplastic polymer material that isused in injection molding and 3-D printing that is not biodegradable.The present invention has selected a bioplastic material having anenvironmental presence of approximately five (5) years.

Also referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, at an exit to the replaceablefilter cartridge 24, 34 the device has an outlet plenum that comprisesan air flow sensor measuring filter performance (either byvolumetric/mass air flow or air pressure). As an example, the invention10 measures an exit pressure at the beginning of life. As the filter isput to successive uses, the air pressure at the exit 15 shall drop to apredetermined delta at which point, it's time to replace the filtercartridge 24, 34. The sensor further can determine an entire life cyclefor a filter cartridge from its initial performance to when it is timefor a replacement. This could similarly be accomplished with two sensors15, at an inlet and outlet to the filter cartridge 34, respectfully.

Additionally, with regard to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B exploded views, thefirst inner housing is provided with extruded Aluminum material so thatelectronic components, PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) 12,Bluetooth module, air flow sensor 15, battery 13 and micro USB chargingport 28, 38 are easily connected or components can easily slide intoplace. Also, the first 21, 31 and second 22 32 housing provide excellentinsulation to the device as well as a good barrier from ambientconditions.

Now turning to FIG. 3, the invention 10 may be characterized as a systemfor measuring filter 24, 34 performance comprising: a filter 20, 24, 30,34; an air sensor 15 for sensing air flow or air pressure; a low powertransmitter 12 for transmitting sensor 15 data; and a receiver andprocessor 11, 99 for receiving and processing sensor data. If should beunderstood that a receiver and processor that records and storeshistorical data is a part of a greater wireless ad hoc network and couldbe a computer device or a smart phone 99 application. And this datacould be shared with tobacco and cannabis distillate manufactures and toe-cigarette and vaporizer OEM manufactures, and interested members ofthe public, etc. FIG. 4 illustrates an elevational view of the filterdevice 20 having a relief carveout 26 in the outer jacket 22.

With regard to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 together, a functional block diagramand schematic illustration provide an over view of the invention 10.System PCB 12 has a Bluetooth module and a counting circuit 14. It 10also has a clock 16 and input from the air pressure sensor(s) 15. Datagoes to the network server 11 or I-phone/Android app 99 and can recordthe following: air flow pressure over time and after each exhale, and anumber of exhales. The counting circuit will have a reset eithermanually 99 or automatically when a filter cartridge 24, 34 is replaced.A length of exhale is also recorded with the clock as is a time of use.Alerts are provided to the smart phone 99 app or elsewhere in thewireless/mobile ad hoc network 11. For example, time to replace thefilter cartridge 24, 34, or time to reorder based on order history andcartridges expended up to that point in time. All data may be maintainedfor accurate history of filter 20, 30 life cycle for subsequentexamination and review.

Stated differently regarding FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the system 10 herein formeasuring filter 20, 24, 30, 34 performance is additionallycharacterized as further comprising a clock 16 for recording data,wherein the data comprises: a duration of exhale; a number of exhalesper day; and days of useful life of a filter cartridge 24, 34, saiduseful life being determined by the air sensor(s) 15. Further withregard to FIG. 5, it is contemplated that data processing can berealized with a smart phone 99 application and be provided toe-cigarette and vaporizer manufactures, as well as tobacco and cannabisdistillate/oil manufactures, and of course, to the manufactures of thefilter cartridges. It is expected that cannabis oil users will use lesstimes per day but have a longer exhale as compared to tobacco users.Additionally further, the smart personal exhale filter herein could beapplicable to traditional smoker applications and e-cigarette user,alike. The system 10 herein further includes an interactive componentthat allows users to check, retrieve data as well as receive data fromthird parties.

Regarding FIG. 2A together with FIG. 5 cross-sectional view, theinvention is a smart personal air filter 20, 30 for filtering exhalecomprising: a first inner tubular housing 31 for receiving andcontaining a plurality of filter components, such as a filter cartridge24, 34 containing carbon or HEPA (high efficiency particulate air)filter, for example; a mouth piece 23 configured to a proximal end ofthe first tubular housing, the mouthpiece for introducing the exhale.Additionally the air filter 20, 30 comprises a an air instrument 15, ortwo, for sensing air flow (or air pressure) within the first tubularhousing 31; and an electronic transmitter 12 (or transceiver) forsending data to a wireless network provided by the air instrument 15,the data to be for the purpose of monitoring filter performance (e.g.the data to be received by a receiver in a cellular telephone 99); and apower supply 13 for powering said personal air filter.

Also regarding FIG. 5, arrows show the movement of air through thedevice downward. At a proximal end of the inner housing 21, 31 is topend wall 27, 37 providing support at an interface between the mouthpiece23, 33 and the inner housing 21, 31. Check valve 12 allows air flow in adownward only direction during a user exhale. It should be appreciatedthat inlet sensor 15 (if employed FIG. 2A) can be configured immediatelybefore the check valve 25 or after. Similarly, check valve 25 can beincorporated to top end wall 27 or sit down in the hole provided by topend wall 27. Exit vent 29, 39 is provided opposite to top end wall 27,37.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustratedembodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example andthat it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by thefollowing claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that theelements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, itmust be expressly understood that the invention includes othercombinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosedabove even when not initially claimed in such combinations.

While the particular Smart Personal Air Filter herein shown anddisclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects andproviding the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as described in theappended claims.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by aperson with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, areexpressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of theclaims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one withordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of thedefined elements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal air filter for filtering exhalecomprising: a first tubular housing for receiving and containing aplurality of filter components; a mouth piece configured to a proximalend of the first tubular housing, the mouthpiece for introducing theexhale; an air instrument for sensing air flow within the first tubularhousing; and an electronic transmitter for sending data to a wirelessnetwork provided by the air instrument, the data to be for the purposeof monitoring filter performance; and a power supply for powering saidpersonal air filter.
 2. The personal air filter for filtering exhale ofclaim 1 further comprising a second tubular housing about an outerportion of the first tubular housing wherein the first tubular housingcomprises extruded aluminum and wherein the second tubular housingcomprises PLA material being substantially biodegradable defined ashaving approximately a five (5) year environmental presence.
 3. Thepersonal air filter for filtering exhale of claim 1, the plurality offilter components further comprising a replaceable filter cartridge atan interior to the first housing, wherein the replaceable filtercartridge is made from a PLA material being substantially biodegradabledefined as having approximately a five (5) year environmental presence.4. The personal air filter for filtering exhale of claim 1, the sendingdata to a wireless network further comprising: a clock for measuring aduration of exhale and time of use; and a counter circuit for recordingnumber of exhales.
 5. The personal air filter for filtering exhale ofclaim 1, wherein the air instrument for sensing air flow is a first airinstrument at an outlet plenum to the plurality of filter components,the personal air filter further comprising a second air instrumentpositioned at an inlet check valve, wherein the electronic transmitteris configured to a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein further amicroprocessor and a mini-universal serial bus (USB) charging port areboth configured to the PCB.
 6. The personal air filter for filteringexhale of claim 1, further comprising: a top end wall at the proximalend of the tubular housing; a check valve approximately at the proximalend of the tubular housing; and an exit vent at a distal end of thetubular housing
 7. The personal air filter for filtering exhale of claim2, the outer housing further comprising a carveout relief including anaperture exposing and providing access to the first tubular housing, therelief for allowing a user to disassemble the personal air filter.
 8. Apersonal air filter comprising: a filter cartridge comprising a filtermedium; a mouthpiece for introducing air to be filtered to the filtercartridge; a first inner housing for containing and receiving the filtercartridge; a printed circuit board (PCB) having a power source coupledthereto; a transmitter coupled to the PCB for transmitting filterinformational data to a wireless network.
 9. The personal air filter ofclaim 8 further comprising an outer jacket covering the first innerhousing including a relief carveout in the outer jacket for assistingremoval thereof wherein the mouthpiece is permanently affixed to theouter jacket.